Assessment of Walking Routes as a Possible Approach for Promoting Physical Activity in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Brief Report.

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at increased risk for being overweight/obese and face a variety of challenges with achieving the recommended levels of physical activity. Physical activity level has additionally been linked to motor skills, sleep, cognitive function and academic performance, and mental health in children with ASD. We pilot tested the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of walking routes as a novel approach to increasing physical activity among children with ASD.

Presence of Small Screens in Bedrooms Is Associated With Shorter Sleep Duration and Later Bedtimes in Children With Obesity.

Background: The presence of small screens in the sleep environment has been associated with shorter sleep duration and later bedtimes in children of normal weight, but the role these devices play in the sleep environment of overweight children is unclear. We sought to examine the association of small screen presence in the sleep environment with sleep behaviors among school-age children with obesity.

Methods: We surveyed 526 parents of children ages 6 to 12 years old with a body mass index ≥95th percentile who were participating in a randomized trial to treat childhood obesity.